Method and system for distributing game content

ABSTRACT

An image of a game being played on a real game machine is captured, in a single frame, with an image of a screen displaying images currently broadcast by public and private television stations and generally viewable to the public. Accordingly, the captured image shows that the game is truly in progress at the present moment.

This application claims priority to prior application JP 2004-350065,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for distributinggame content, which allows a user at a remote location to participate inreal-time in a game played on a real game machine, such as a roulettemachine, via a communications network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Game machines, such as a roulette machine, can be divided intocomputer-controlled game machines, which have been widely used in recentyears, and game machines not controlled by a computer. In case of thecomputer-controlled game machines, the progress and result of a game aredetermined according to an algorithm in a software installed on acomputer. Thus, the software may arbitrarily output the result of agame. Accordingly, a game player can feel concern as to whether thealgorithm is providing a fraudulent result. In some cases, therefore, agame player psychologically believes that they will finally lose thegame. Further, in a game against a computer, an image of a dealer is arepeatedly replayed digital image. Therefore, a game player cannot sensethe dealer's expressions and habits. This is one of the reasons for themonotony that game players feel toward the computer-controlled gamemachines.

Furthermore, in the case of a game played using a game softwareinstalled on a computer, the game is no more than a simulation and thushas a disadvantage in the lack of live aspects of a real game hall. Onthe other hand, in the case of a roulette machine not controlled by acomputer, a dealer needs to be located near the roulette machine. Toallow a multitude of game players to play roulette games, therefore, arelatively large space is required for arranging the roulette machines.Among existing remote roulette game systems, PCT Japanese TranslationPatent Publication No. 2004-520089 (hereinafter referred to as a RelatedArt 1), for example, describes a system allowing a game player at aremote location to watch and participate in a real game played at aplace such as a casino (see Paragraphs 0010 and 0011 of the Related Art1). According to the system, the game player can watch, via acommunications network, a live image of a casino where a betting game isbeing held, and also the game player can participate in the betting gameusing cash or a credit card.

According to the system described in the above Related Art 1, however,if a previously recorded image is deceptively distributed, a game playercannot check whether or not the image is truly a real-time image.Therefore, the game player can be concerned about the system beingfraudulent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amethod and system for distributing game content, which allows a gameplayer at a remote location to enjoy a game with the live aspectsthereof without feeling concern about fraudulence, and which offers agame hall management an opportunity for increases in customer count andrevenue.

The present invention describes a method for distributing game content.According to one aspect of the invention, a method for distributing gamecontent includes: displaying a currently broadcast image; receivingbetting content information from a terminal used by a game participant(the betting content information designates, as a betting target, aresult of a game randomly determined by a game machine, and includesinformation of a betting money amount); concurrently capturing thedisplayed currently broadcast image and a process of the game on thegame machine, and sending the terminal a game image including thedisplayed currently broadcast image and the process of the game;calculating a collected/refunded money amount on the basis of the resultof the game determined by the game machine and the betting contentinformation (the collected/refunded money amount indicates a moneyamount collected from or refunded to the game participant); and sendingthe terminal information of the result of the game and thecollected/refunded money amount. Accordingly, the method can confirm forthe game participant that the captured image truly shows the game inprogress at the present moment.

The method for distributing game content according to the one aspect ofthe invention may further include: displaying, on the terminal used bythe game participant, the game image and the information of the resultof the game and the collected/refunded money amount sent to theterminal.

The method for distributing game content according to the one aspect ofthe invention may further include: managing, for each individual gameparticipant, a total amount of money collected from or refunded to thegame participant; and receiving and relaying to the terminal used by thegame participant the result of the game and the collected/refunded moneyamount, and updating, upon receipt of the collected/refunded moneyamount, the total amount of money collected from or refunded to the gameparticipant on the basis of the collected/refunded money amount.

The method for distributing game content according to the one aspect ofthe invention may further include; determining, on the basis of anoperation of setting a game available time during which the gameparticipant can make a bet, whether or not a time of reception of thebetting content information is within a game available time; and sendingthe terminal used by the game participant a notice that participation inthe bet has been accepted, when the time of reception of the bettingcontent information is within the game available time.

The present invention further describes a system for distributing gamecontent. According to one aspect of the invention, a system fordistributing game content includes a betting content informationreceiving device, a collected/refunded money amount calculating device,a result sending device, a broadcast image displaying device, and a gameimage sending device. The betting content information receiving devicereceives betting content information from a terminal used by a gameparticipant via a communications network. The betting contentinformation designates, as a betting target, a result of a game randomlydetermined by a game machine, and includes information of a bettingmoney amount. The collected/refunded money amount calculating devicecalculates a collected/refunded money amount on the basis of the resultof the game determined by the game machine and the betting contentinformation. The collected/refunded money amount indicates a moneyamount collected from or refunded to the game participant. The resultsending device sends information of the result of the game and thecollected/refunded money amount to the terminal via the communicationsnetwork. The broadcast image displaying device displays a currentlybroadcast image. The game image sending device concurrently captures thedisplayed currently broadcast image and a process of the game on thegame machine, and sends the terminal a game image including thedisplayed currently broadcast image and the process of the game.

In the system for distributing game content according to the one aspectof the invention, the terminal may display the game image sent from thegame image sending device and the information of the result of the gameand the collected/refunded money amount sent from the result sendingdevice.

The system for distributing game content according to the one aspect ofthe invention may further include a managing device. The managing devicemay manage, for each individual game participant, a total money amountcollected from or refunded to the game participant. The managing devicemay receive and relay to the terminal used by the game participant theresult of the game and the collected/refunded money amount sent from theresult sending device, and may update, upon receipt of thecollected/refunded money amount, the total money amount collected fromor refunded to the game participant on the basis of thecollected/refunded money amount.

The system for distributing game content according to the one aspect ofthe invention may further include a game available time setting device,a game available time verifying device, and a betting acceptance noticesending device. The game available time setting device may perform anoperation of setting a game available time during which the gameparticipant can make a bet. The game available time verifying device maydetermine, on the basis of the operation of setting the game availabletime, whether or not a time of reception of the betting contentinformation is within the game available time. The betting acceptancenotice sending device may send the terminal used by the game participanta notice that participation in the bet has been accepted, when the timeof reception of the betting content, information is within the gameavailable time.

According to the above aspects of the invention, a game player at aremote location can enjoy a game, such as a roulette game, in real-timevia a network with the live aspects of the game, without feeling concernabout fraudulence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa system for delivering game content according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a roulettemachine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of money flowpaths of data distribution fees according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of reception of abetting content by the roulette machine according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the firstembodiment of the present invention, which is performed when a gameavailable time ends and money is collected from or refunded to a gameplayer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of configuration of asystem for distributing game content according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of money flowpaths of data delivery fees according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of moneyflow paths of data delivery fees according to the second embodiment ofthe present Invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of reception of abetting content by the roulette machine according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the secondembodiment of the present invention, which is performed when a gameavailable time ends and money is collected from or refunded to a gameplayer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

With reference to the drawings, a first embodiment of the presentinvention is described.

A network distribution system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a roulettemachine 14, a router 15, a network camera 11, a television monitor 13, atelevision receiver 16, a game machine terminal 21, a terminal router22, a game machine terminal 31, and a terminal router 32. The roulettemachine 14 and the game machine terminals 21 and 31 are connected to acommunications network 10 via the router 15 and the terminal routers 22and 32, respectively. The communications network (hereinafter referredto simply as network) 10 is, but not limited to, the Internet, forexample.

A company A is, for example, an organization running a real casino orthe like and owns the roulette machine 14, the router 15, the networkcamera 11, the television monitor 13, and the television receiver 16, Adealer 12 is employed by the company A and operates the roulette machine14 and a button 17 provided thereon.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the roulette machine 14 includes the button17, a roulette wheel 201, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202, a storagedevice 203, and an input/output interface (I/O) 204, which arecommunicably interconnected. The roulette wheel 201 is partitioned intoa plurality of slots (not illustrated) each numbered and painted ineither red or black. The dealer 12 spins the roulette wheel 201.

The roulette wheel 201 has a sensor (not illustrated) responsive topressure of a roulette ball. The sensor is provided on each of theplurality of slots of the roulette wheel 201. When the roulette ball isthrown into one of the plurality of slots, the sensor responsive to thepressure of the roulette ball detects the slot in which the rouletteball is located, Then, the CPU 202 connected to the roulette wheel 201automatically determines a game result (i.e., a roulette result) of theroulette machine 14 on the basis of the detection performed by thesensor. The CPU 202 outputs the roulette result to the router 15 via theinput/output interface 204. The input/output interface 204 receives andsends information from/to the other apparatus via the router 15.

When the dealer 12 operates the button 17, the CPU 202 outputs a triggersignal to the router 15 via the input/output interface 204. The triggersignal indicates a game available time or a game unavailable time for agame player. The CPU 202 further has a function of determining whether atime of setting a betting content in the game machine terminal 21 or 31by a game player 23 or 33 is within the game available time. The CPU 202also has a function of calculating a money amount collected from orrefunded to the game player 21 or 31 on the basis of the rouletteresult. The betting content refers to information of a betting target(i.e., a number or color of a slot on the roulette wheel 201 in thepresent example) and a betting money.

The television receiver 16 receives and displays on the televisionmonitor 13 images broadcast by public and private television stations,which are generally viewable to the public. The network camera 11concurrently captures images of the roulette machine 14 being operatedby the dealer 12 and images being displayed on the television monitor13, and outputs in real-time the captured images and sounds to therouter 15.

Via the network 10, the router 15 sends in real-time the images andsounds output from the network camera 11 to the terminal routers 22 and32 of respective game hall companies B and C which are contractants ofthe company A. The router 15 also sends roulette-related data outputfrom the roulette machine 14 to the terminal routers 22 and 32 via thenetwork 10. The roulette-related data indicates the roulette result, thegame available time, and the game unavailable time. Further, the router15 identifies a contractant by using an ID or a password previouslyassigned to the contractant. Accordingly, the router 15 communicatesexclusively with contractants. For example, a game machine terminalsends the roulette machine 14 information including a previouslyassigned ID. If information sent to the roulette machine 14 does notinclude the ID, the router 15 blocks the information. If the informationsent to the roulette machine 14 includes the ID, the router 15 passesthe information.

The game hall companies B and C are, for example, organizations runninggame halls or the like, such as game arcades. The game hall company Bhas the game machine terminal 21 and the terminal router 22, while thegame hall company C has the game machine terminal 31 and the terminalrouter 32. The game players 23 and 33 are customers visiting the gamehall companies B and C, respectively, to play on the respective gamemachine terminals 21 and 31.

The game machine terminals 21 and 31 function as roulette game machines,as they display on respective display devices 24 and 34 game images androulette results received by the respective terminal routers 22 and 32.Further, each of the game machine terminals 21 and 31 has a function ofsending the betting content input by the game player to the roulettemachine 14 via the network 10. Each of the game machine terminals 21 and31 also has a function of displaying the money amount collected from orrefunded to the game player, which is calculated on the basis of theroulette result and is sent by the roulette machine 14. Furthermore, thegame machine terminals 21 and 31 each include an operation device (notillustrated) capable of inputting colors and numbers which are bettingtargets, and respectively include the display devices 24 and 34. Inaddition, each of the game machine terminals 21 and 31 includes amicroprocessor (not illustrated) which operates according to a program,and also includes a storage device (not illustrated) which stores theprogram. The microprocessor controls the operation device such that theoperation device is operable during the game available time andinoperable during the game unavailable time.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the company A and the game hall companies Band C have their own accounts in their respective banks. The company Ahas a contract with each of the game hall companies B and C on a monthlyor annual basis, for example. A data distribution fee or the like issent to the account of the company A in its bank 301 from the accountsof the game hall companies B and C in their respective banks 302 and303, according to respective forms of contract.

The television receiver 16 is an apparatus for replaying broadcastimages. The television monitor 13 is an apparatus for displaying on ascreen thereof the images replayed by the television receiver 16.Thereby, the television receiver 16 and the television monitor 13 form abroadcast image displaying device. The network camera 11 is a videocamera for converting images into electrical signals and recording theimages. The network camera 11 includes an output cable and outputsrecorded images to a communication device connected to the networkcamera 11. Thus, the network camera 11 forms a game image sendingdevice.

The roulette machine 14 is a game machine for randomly determining thegame result, and includes the button 17 for performing an operation ofsetting the game available time during which a game participant can makea bet. In this manner, the button 17 forms a game available time settingdevice.

The roulette machine 14 stores in the storage device 203 a program forexecuting processing described below. As the CPU 202 included in theroulette machine 14 operates according to the program, the processingdescribed below is executed. The roulette machine 14 further includesthe input/output interface 204 for performing communication via therouter 15 and the network 10. Thus, the CPU 202 in the roulette machine14 operating according to the program forms a collected/refunded moneycalculating device and a game available time verifying device. Further,the CPU 202 operating according to the program and the input/outputinterface 204 form a betting content information receiving device, aresult sending device, and a betting acceptance notice sending device.

The router 15 is connected to the roulette machine 14 and the networkcamera 11, and serves as an information processing apparatus having acommunication function.

The game machine terminals 21 and 31 each have the operation devicecapable of inputting numbers and colors, and respectively have thedisplay devices 24 and 34. Further, each of the game machine terminals21 and 31 includes a program for executing processing described below.As the microprocessor included in each of the game machine terminals 21and 31 operates according to the program, the processing described belowis executed. In this manner, the microprocessor operating according tothe program forms a device for displaying the information of the gameresult and the collected/refunded money amount and the game image sentfrom the game image sending device.

Operations according to the present embodiment are then described withreference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating anoperation of reception of the betting content by the roulette machine14. When a game on the roulette machine 14 starts (i.e., at the start ofthe roulette machine 14), the dealer 12 sets the button 17 (Step S401).When the button 17 is set, the CPU 202 of the roulette machine 14 sendsa notice of game availability to the game machine terminal 21 (StepS402). Thus, the game machine terminal 21 enters into a bettingavailable state. In the present embodiment, a game machine terminal isoperable during the betting available state and inoperable during abetting unavailable state. After setting the button 17, the dealer 12waits for a lapse of a predetermined time period (Step S403), andadvances to a Step S501 illustrated in FIG. 5. When the game player 23inputs and determines a betting content, the microprocessor in the gamemachine terminal 21 sends the roulette machine 14 via the network 10 anotice of determination of betting content for indicating that thebetting content has been determined (Step S404).

Upon receipt of the notice of determination of betting content sent bythe game machine terminal 21, the CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14determines whether or not the time of reception of the betting contentby the roulette machine 14 is within the game unavailable time (StepS405). If the CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14 determines that thetime of reception of the betting content by the roulette machine 14 isnot within the game unavailable time (NO in Step S405), the CPU 202 inthe roulette machine 14 sends the game machine terminal 21 via thenetwork 10 a notice of betting acceptance for indicating that thebetting has been accepted (Step S406). Upon receipt of the notice ofbetting acceptance, the microprocessor in the game machine terminal 21confirms the betting for indicating that the betting has been confirmed(Step S407). In the Step S405, if the CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14determines that the time of reception of the betting content by theroulette machine 14 is within the game unavailable time (YES in StepS405), the CPU 202 does not send the notice of betting acceptance. Thus,the microprocessor in the game machine terminal 21 does not confirm thebetting. Whether or not the time of reception of the betting content bythe roulette machine 14 is within the game unavailable time isdetermined with reference to a game-unavailable-time flag. Thegame-unavailable-time flag indicates whether or not a given time iswithin the game unavailable time. In the present embodiment, if thegame-unavailable-time flag is set, the given time is determined to bewithin the game unavailable time. If the game-unavailable-time flag isnot set, the given time is determined to be within the game availabletime. Setting of the game/unavailable-time flag is performed in StepS504 described later.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when the gameavailable time ends and money is collected from or refunded to a gameplayer. When the dealer 12 throws a roulette ball into the roulettewheel 201 (Step S501) and betting is closed, the dealer 12 cancels thesetting of the button 17 (Step S502). Upon cancellation of the button17, the CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14 sends the game machineterminal 21 a notice of game unavailability (Step S503). Then, the CPU202 sets the game-unavailable-time flag (Step S504). When the rouletteball falls in any one of the plurality of slots and the roulette resultis settled, the CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14 automaticallydetermines the roulette result on the basis of the detection performedby the sensor (not illustrated). Then, the CPU 202 in the roulettemachine 14 sends the roulette result to the game machine terminal 21,calculates the amount of money to be collected from or refunded to thegame player 23 on the basis of the roulette result and the bettingcontent, and sends the game machine terminal 21 a calculation result(Step S505). The amount of money collected from or refunded to a gameplayer calculated on the basis of the roulette result is hereinafterreferred to as a collected/refunded money amount.

The microprocessor in the game machine terminal 21 refers to data of theroulette result and the collected/refunded money amount sent from theroulette machine 14, and displays the collected/refunded money amount onthe display device 24 (Step S506). After determination of the rouletteresult, the dealer 12 waits for a lapse of a predetermined time period(Step S507), and then returns to Step S401 illustrated in FIG. 4 forsetting the button 17. In this manner, a sequence of the steps describedabove is repeated.

The examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the operations performedby the dealer 12, the roulette machine 14, and the game machine terminal21. Alternatively, the game machine terminal 31 may replace the gamemachine terminal 21.

During a time period from the start of the game on the roulette machine14 until the end of business hours, the network camera 11 continues tocapture the images of the roulette machine 14 being operated by thedealer 12 together with the broadcast images being displayed on thetelevision monitor 13, and also continues to output in real-time thecaptured images and sounds to the game machine terminal 21 via thenetwork 10. The television monitor 13 displaying a currently broadcastimage is thus displayed together with the roulette machine 14 beingoperated by the dealer 12. This shows that the dealer 12 is trulyoperating the roulette machine 14 at the present moment.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention, the game player 23 can play a game in real-time with the liveaspects of a real game by watching the image of the real roulettemachine 14 displayed on the game machine terminal 21. Further, the imagedisplayed on the game machine terminal 21 includes both the roulettemachine 14 being operated by the dealer 12 and the television monitor 13placed near the roulette machine 14. The television monitor 13 displaysthe images broadcast by the public and private television stationsgenerally viewable to the public. Therefore, the game player can confirmthat the Image displayed on the television monitor 13 is an imagecurrently broadcast at the present moment. Accordingly, even at a remotelocation, the game player can experience in real-time the atmosphere ofa real casino and confirm that the roulette machine 14 is being operatedat the present moment. Consequently, the game player can play a roulettegame, without having concern about fraudulence in a process and resultof the game.

Meanwhile, the management of a game hall can expect, as potentialcustomers, those people who are hesitant to play games because ofconcern about fraudulence. As a result, increase in revenue may beexpected. Furthermore, the management of a game hall can be separate andIndependent from the data distribution company. If the management of agame hall is separate and independent from the data distributioncompany, the data distribution company cannot improperly manipulateroulette results. Thereby, game players may feel increasingly safe.Further, the management of a game hall does not need to employ a dealer.Therefore, the management of a game hall can expect cost reduction bypaying the company A a contract rate for a necessary number of gamemachine terminals. Moreover, a game hall can save a relatively largespace required for installing roulette equipment. Therefore, the gamehall can reduce necessary installation space and thus expect costreduction. As a result, space for placing other game machines isincreased, and therefore the management of the game hall can expectincreased business chances.

Second Embodiment

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention is describedwith reference to the drawings.

A network distribution system illustrated in FIG., 6 includes a roulettemachine 14, a router 15, a network camera 11, a television monitor 13, atelevision receiver 16, a host computer 51, a host router 52, and apersonal computer 41. The roulette machine 14 and the host computer 51are connected to a communications network (hereinafter referred tosimply as network) 10 such as the Internet, for example, via the router15 and the host router 52, respectively.

A company A is, for example, a real casino or the like, and includes theroulette machine 14, the router 15, the network camera 11, thetelevision monitor 13, and the television receiver 16. A dealer 12 isemployed by the company A and operates the roulette machine 14 and abutton 17 provided thereon. It is noted here that the roulette machine14 used in the present embodiment is similar in configuration to theroulette machine 14 used in the first embodiment (refer to FIG. 2).

The television receiver 16 receives and displays on the televisionmonitor 13 images broadcast by public and private television stations,which are generally viewable to the public. The network camera 11concurrently captures images of the roulette machine 14 being operatedby the dealer 12 and images being displayed on the television monitor13, and outputs in real-time the captured images and sounds to therouter 15.

The router 15 sends in real-time the images and sounds output from thenetwork camera 11 via the network 10 to the personal computer 41 used byan individual contractant D. The router 15 further sends a rouletteresult output from the roulette machine 14 to the host router 52 via thenetwork 10. The router 15 identifies a contractant by using an ID or apassword previously assigned to the contractant. Accordingly, the router15 communicates exclusively with contractants. For example, the personalcomputer 41 sends the roulette machine 14 information including apreviously assigned ID. If the information sent to the roulette machine14 does not include the ID, the router 15 blocks the information. If theinformation sent to the roulette machine 14 includes the ID, the router15 passes the information.

An Internet game distribution company F has the host computer 51 and thehost router 52. The host router 52 outputs the roulette result sent fromthe router 15 to the host computer 51.

The host computer 51 includes a program for executing processingdescribed below. A microprocessor included in the host computer 51operates according to the program so that the processing described belowis executed. Thus, the microprocessor operating according to the programforms a managing device.

Via the host router 52 and the network 10, the host computer 51 sendsthe roulette result to the personal computer 41 used by the individualcontractant D. The host computer 51 manages a betting process.Specifically, for each individual game player, the host computer 51manages a total money amount that the company A collects from or refundsto the individual game player. In case where the total money amount ischanged, the total money amount is updated. The host computer 51includes a storage device (not illustrated) for storing information ofthe total money amount In the case of the change in the total moneyamount, the information of the total money amount is updated.

The personal computer 41 has a program previously installed therein forcausing the personal computer 41 to function as a roulette game machine.The personal computer 41 displays, on a display device thereof, theroulette result sent from the host router 52. Thus, the personalcomputer 41 functions as a roulette game machine. Further, the personalcomputer 41 has a function of sending a betting content input by a gameplayer 42 to the host router 52 via the network 10. The personalcomputer 41 also has a function of displaying the collected/refundedmoney amount sent from the host router 52. Furthermore, the personalcomputer 41 is controlled to be operable during a game available timeand inoperable during a game unavailable time.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the company A, the Internet game distributioncompany F, and the individual contractant D have their own accounts intheir respective banks. Contracts are made between the company A and theInternet game distribution company F and between the Internet gamedistribution company F and the individual contractant D on a monthlybasis, for example. A data distribution fee or the like is sent to theaccount of the internet game distribution company F in its bank 702 fromthe account of the individual contractant D in its bank 701 according toa form of contract. Further, a data distribution fee or the like is sentto the account of the company A in its bank 301 from the account of theInternet game distribution company F in its bank 702 according to a formof contract.

Alternatively, in an example illustrated in FIG. 8, a data distributionfee or the like is sent to the account of the Internet game distributioncompany F in its bank 702 and the account of the company A in its bank301 from the account of the individual contractant D in its bank 701according to a form of contract. Further, a data distribution fee or thelike is sent to the account of the company A in its bank 301 from theaccount of the Internet game distribution company F in its bank 702according to a form of contract.

Subsequently, operations according to the present embodiment aredescribed with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a flowchartillustrating an operation of reception of the betting content by theroulette machine 14. At the start of the roulette machine 14, the dealer12 sets the button 17 (Step S901). When the button 17 is set, the CPU202 of the roulette machine 14 sends a notice of game availability tothe personal computer 41 (Step S902), and the personal computer 41enters into a betting available state. In the present embodiment, thepersonal computer 41 (i.e., a game machine terminal) is operable duringthe betting available state and inoperable during a betting unavailablestate. After setting the button 17, the dealer 12 waits for a lapse of apredetermined time period (Step S903), and advances to Step S1001illustrated in FIG. 10. When the game player 42 inputs and determines abetting content, the personal computer 41 sends the host computer 51 viathe network 10 a notice of determination of betting content forindicating that the betting content has been determined (Step S904).Upon receipt of the notice of determination of betting content sent bythe personal computer 41, the host computer 51 sends the notice ofdetermination of betting content to the roulette machine 14 via thenetwork 10 (Step S905).

Upon receipt of the notice of determination of betting content sent bythe host computer 51, the CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14 determineswhether or not the time of reception of the betting content by theroulette machine 14 is within the game unavailable time (Step S906). Ifthe CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14 determines that the time ofreception of the betting content by the roulette machine 14 is notwithin the game unavailable time (NO in Step S906), the CPU 202 in theroulette machine 14 sends the host computer 51 via the network 10 anotice of betting acceptance for indicating that the betting has beenaccepted (Step S907). Upon receipt of the notice of betting acceptancefrom the roulette machine 14, the host computer 51 sends the personalcomputer 41 via the network 10 a notice that the betting has beenconfirmed (Step S908). Upon receipt of this notice, the personalcomputer 41 confirms the betting for indicating that the betting hasbeen confirmed (Step S909). In Step S906, if the roulette machine 14determines that the time of reception of the betting content by theroulette machine 14 is within the game unavailable time (YES in StepS906), the roulette machine 14 does not send the notice of bettingacceptance. Thus, the host computer 51 and the personal computer 41 donot confirm the betting. Whether or not the time of reception of thebetting content by the roulette machine 14 is within the gameunavailable time is determined with reference to thegame/unavailable-time flag in a similar way to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when the gameavailable time ends and money is collected from or refunded to a gameplayer. When the dealer 12 throws a roulette ball into the roulettewheel 201 (Step S1001) and betting is closed, the dealer 12 cancels thesetting of the button 17 (Step S1002). Upon cancellation of the button17, the CPU 202 in the roulette machine 14 sends the host computer 51 anotice of game unavailability (Step S1003). Then, the CPU 202 sets thegame-unavailable-time flag for indicating whether or not the time ofreception of the betting content by the roulette machine 14 is withinthe game unavailable time (Step S1004). When the roulette ball falls inany one of the plurality of slots and the roulette result is settled,the roulette machine 14 automatically determines the roulette result andsends the roulette result to the host computer 51. Then, the roulettemachine 14 calculates a money amount collected from or refunded to agame player (i.e., the collected/refunded money amount) on the basis ofthe roulette result and the betting content, and sends the host computer51 the calculated collected/refunded money amount (Step S1005).

The host computer 51 sends the personal computer 41 data of the rouletteresult and the collected/refunded money amount sent from the roulettemachine 14 (Step S1006). In Step S1006, the host computer 51 furtherupdates a total money amount that the company A collects from or refundsto the individual contractant D on the basis of the data of thecollected/refunded money amount. The personal computer 41 refers to thedata of the roulette result and the collected/refunded money amount sentfrom the host computer 51, and displays the collected/refunded moneyamount on the display device thereof (Step S1007). After determinationof the roulette result, the dealer 12 waits for a lapse of apredetermined time period (Step S1008), and then returns to the StepS901 illustrated in FIG. 9 for setting the button 17, i.e., the firstaction taken in the game. In this manner, a sequence of the stepsdescribed above is repeated.

During a time period from the start to the end of the operation of theroulette machine 14, the network camera 11 continues to capture imagesof the roulette machine 14 being operated by the dealer 12 together withthe broadcast Images being displayed on the television monitor 13, andalso continues to output in real-time the captured images and sounds tothe personal computer 41 via the network 10, The television monitor 13displaying currently broadcast images is thus displayed together withthe images of the roulette machine 14 being operated by the dealer 12.This shows that the dealer 12 is truly operating the roulette machine 14at the present moment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, theInternet game distribution company F does not need to Install a gamemachine terminal. Thus, the Internet game distribution company F can runan Internet game hall with a relatively small initial investment.

In the above-described first and second embodiments of the presentinvention, a roulette machine is used as an example of a game machine.Alternatively, a game machine of another type may replace the roulettemachine.

The above embodiments of the present invention are useful indistribution of game content by allowing a game player at a remotelocation to play a game in real-time with the live aspects of a realgame, without feeling concern about fraudulence.

The present invention has been specifically described above withreference to the drawings, though the invention is not limited to theabove embodiment. As a matter of course, various modifications arepermitted within the scope of the invention.

1. A method for distributing game content, comprising: displaying acurrently broadcast image; receiving betting content information from aterminal used by a game participant, the betting content informationdesignating, as a betting target, a result of a game randomly determinedby a game machine and including information of a betting money amount;concurrently capturing the displayed currently broadcast image and aprocess of the game on the game machine, and sending the terminal a gameimage including the displayed currently broadcast image and the processof the game; calculating a collected/refunded money amount on the basisof the result of the game determined by the game machine and the bettingcontent information, the collected/refunded money amount indicating amoney amount collected from or refunded to the game participant; andsending the terminal information of the result of the game and thecollected/refunded money amount.
 2. The method for distributing gamecontent according to claim 1, further comprising: displaying, on theterminal used by the game participant, the game image and theinformation of the result of the game and the collected/refunded moneyamount sent to the terminal.
 3. The method for distributing game contentaccording to claim 1, further comprising: managing, for each individualgame participant, a total amount of money collected from or refunded tothe game participant; and receiving and relaying to the terminal used bythe game participant the result of the game and the collected/refundedmoney amount, and updating, upon receipt of the collected/refunded moneyamount, the total amount of money collected from or refunded to the gameparticipant on the basis of the collected/refunded money amount.
 4. Themethod for distributing game content according to claim 1, furthercomprising: determining, on the basis of an operation of setting a gameavailable time during which the game participant can make a bet, whetheror not a time of reception of the betting content information is withina game available time; and sending the terminal used by the gameparticipant a notice that participation in the bet is accepted, when thetime of reception of the betting content information is within the gameavailable time.
 5. A system for distributing game content, comprising: abetting content information receiving device for receiving bettingcontent Information from a terminal used by a game participant via acommunications network, the betting content information designating, asa betting target, a result of a game randomly determined by a gamemachine and including information of a betting money amount; acollected/refunded money amount calculating device for calculating acollected/refunded money amount on the basis of the result of the gamedetermined by the game machine and the betting content information, thecollected/refunded money amount indicating a money amount collected fromor refunded to the game participant; a result sending device for sendinginformation of the result of the game and the collected/refunded moneyamount to the terminal via the communications network: a broadcast imagedisplaying device for displaying a currently broadcast image; and a gameimage sending device for concurrently capturing the displayed currentlybroadcast image and a process of the game on the game machine, and forsending the terminal a game image including the displayed currentlybroadcast image and the process of the game.
 6. The system fordistributing game content according to claim 5, wherein the terminaldisplays the game image sent from the game image sending device and theinformation of the result of the game and the collected/refunded moneyamount sent from the result sending device.
 7. The system fordistributing game content according to claim 5, further comprising: amanaging device for managing, for each individual game participant, atotal money amount collected from or refunded to the game participant,wherein the managing device receives and relays to the terminal used bythe game participant the result of the game and the collected/refundedmoney amount sent from the result sending device, and updates, uponreceipt of the collected/refunded money amount, the total money amountcollected from or refunded to the game participant on the basis of thecollected/refunded money amount.
 8. The system for distributing gamecontent according to claim 5, further comprising: a game available timesetting device for performing an operation of setting a game availabletime during which the game participant can make a bet; a game availabletime verifying device for determining, on the basis of the operation ofsetting the game available time, whether or not a time of reception ofthe betting content information is within the game available time; and abetting acceptance notice sending device for sending the terminal usedby the game participant a notice that participation in the bet isaccepted, when the time of reception of the betting content informationis within the game available time.